Bag for bulk goods, and method for use in storing and/or transporting bulk goods

ABSTRACT

A bag for bulk goods comprises an unfoldable wall construction ( 2, 3, 4 ) and a flexible filling hose ( 7 ) fastened to the wall construction in a first fastening area ( 21 ) of the wall construction. The bag further comprises at least two flexible hoisting cloth parts ( 5 A,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D) fastened to the wall construction, for picking up the bag by hooking hoisting means ( 30 ) to the hoisting cloth parts. Each of the hoisting cloth parts is fastened to the wall construction in a second fastening area ( 22 ) of the wall construction associated with the respective hoisting cloth part. The second fastening area is situated at a distance from the first fastening area. Each of the hoisting cloth parts is fastened to the filling hose in a third fastening area ( 23 ) of the filling hose associated with the respective hoisting cloth part. The third fastening area is situated at a distance from the first fastening area.

The invention relates to a bag for bulk goods, comprising an unfoldable wall construction which in unfolded condition defines an internal filling space of the bag, a flexible filling hose fastened to the wall construction in a first fastening area of the wall construction and terminating in the filling space for filling the bag with the bulk goods, and at least two flexible hoisting cloth parts fastened to the wall construction which extend at least partly externally of the filling space for picking up the bag by hooking hoisting means to the hoisting cloth parts, each of the hoisting cloth parts being fastened to the wall construction in a second fastening area of the wall construction associated with the respective hoisting cloth part, the second fastening area being situated at a distance from the first fastening area. The invention also relates to a method for use in storing and/or transporting bulk goods.

Such bags, also named “Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers” (FIBC's) in English, can be filled with, for example, powders, granulates, liquids, viscous substances, or the like. Such bags exist in different dimensions and measures of volume and are manufactured from supple materials that are fastened together by sowing, welding, gluing or any other joining techniques. At the top of the known bag is the filling hose. The underside of the known bags can be designed as a flat closed bottom or as a discharge valve which is formed by a narrowed portion in the bottom and which can be closed off at will by tying up or the like.

The known bags can have various types of flexible hoisting cloth parts, mostly in the form of loop-shaped hoisting belts, but also in the form of so-called hoisting sleeves.

A drawback of the known bags is that picking up such a bag, for instance for the purpose of filling, emptying or moving the bag, requires many manual operations. If for picking up a known bag, for example, a forklift truck is used, normally the flexible hoisting belts or hoisting sleeves of the bag first need to be fitted each of them around a prong of the forklift truck before the forklift truck can pick up the bag.

A further drawback is that also filling a known bag requires manual operations, since the flexible filling hose of the bag first needs to be held upright before a filling head can be introduced into the filling hose.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution by which such manual operations can be obviated or at least reduced.

To this end, according to the invention, a bag for bulk goods of the initially indicated type is characterized in that each of the hoisting cloth parts is fastened to the filling hose in a third fastening area of the filling hose associated with the respective hoisting cloth part, the third fastening area being situated at a distance from the first fastening area. Also, according to the invention, a method of the initially indicated type is characterized in that: such a bag, which may or may not be already filled with the bulk goods, is provided; hoisting means are provided; the filling hose is at least partly picked up through engagement of the filling hose and/or of at least one of the hoisting cloth parts; and thereupon the bag is picked up with the aid of the hoisting means which are hooked to the hoisting cloth parts of the bag.

Specific embodiments of the invention are laid down in the dependent claims.

As a result of such a fastening of the hoisting cloth parts to the filling hose, when the filling hose is at least partly picked up through engagement of the filling hose, the hoisting cloth parts are thereby automatically picked up along with it. Hoisting means, such as prongs of a forklift truck, can then be simply hooked to the hoisting cloth parts thus already automatically picked up along with the hose, so that the bag can be picked up with the hoisting means. Manual operations during picking up of the bag can thus be obviated or at least reduced. With the bag thus picked up, as a result of such a fastening of the hoisting cloth parts to the filling hose, the filling hose is automatically held at least partly upright, so that also manual operations during the filling of the bag can be avoided or at least reduced.

As a result of such a fastening of the hoisting cloth parts to the filling hose, it is also possible to pick up the filling hose at least partly through engagement of at least one of the hoisting cloth parts. Picking up (and holding upright) of, for example, just one hoisting cloth part then results in the picking up (and holding upright) of the filling hose, as well as of the other hoisting cloth parts fastened to the filling hose. In that case, too, therefore, manual operations in picking up and in filling the bag can be avoided or at least reduced.

Picking up of the filling hose can, in principle, be carried out manually.

In an embodiment of the method, also vacuum pickup means are provided, and at least partly picking up the filling hose is realized through vacuum engagement by the vacuum pickup means of the filling hose and/or of at least one of the hoisting cloth parts. Employing such vacuum pickup means results in a further-going reduction of manual operations in picking up and filling the bag.

Preferably, for at least partly picking up the filling hose and for picking up the bag, an apparatus, such as a forklift truck, is employed, the apparatus being provided with the hoisting means and the vacuum pickup means.

In the above methods, it may be that the picked-up bag is not yet filled with the bulk goods. The picked-up bag can thereupon be filled with the bulk goods through the filling hose. The thus-filled bag can then be stored and/or transported.

But also, in the above methods, prior to picking up the bag, the bag may already be filled with the bulk goods. Then the picked-up bag can thereupon be emptied in one of the manners conventional with bags for bulk goods.

The wall construction may be formed in various manners. The wall construction may be manufactured from multiple wall parts from supple material, which wall parts are fastened together by sowing, welding, gluing or any other joining techniques. It is also possible, however, that the wall construction actually consists of just a single, integrally manufactured wall. Also, if desired, an underside of the bag may be provided with a discharge valve.

In an embodiment, the wall construction of the bag comprises, viewed in the unfolded and picked-up condition, a circumferential wall, a bottom wall adjoining the circumferential wall, which closes off the circumferential wall at a first end of the bag, and a covering wall adjoining the circumferential wall, which closes off the circumferential wall at a second end of the bag, situated opposite the bottom wall; the first fastening area is part of the covering wall; and the second fastening areas extend substantially at the junction of the circumferential wall to the covering wall. As a result, ample hook-on areas are provided for the hoisting means, such as prongs of a forklift truck, which is of benefit to accuracy of hooking-on.

The third fastening areas can, in principle, be situated at diverse points of the filling hose, for example, at diverse points in a longitudinal direction of the filling hose.

In an embodiment, the third fastening areas extend substantially at an end of the filling hose where a supply opening of the filling hose is situated. As a result, along with picking up the filling hose, the hoisting cloth parts are properly picked up along with it, and also the filling hose ends up properly upright and open upon picking up of the bag with the hoisting means hooking-on. All this accordingly enables a further-going reduction of manual operations in picking up and filling the bag.

The flexible hoisting cloth parts may be formed, in principle, in various ways, for example, in the form of hoisting belts, in the form of hoisting sleeves, or in other forms.

In an embodiment, respective ones of the flexible hoisting cloth parts are formed by respective flexible hoisting belt segments. Such a structure of hoisting belts is a relatively open structure that offers many hook-on possibilities and engagement possibilities in picking up the bag and in picking up the filling hose. Various numbers of such hoisting belt segments may be used.

In an embodiment, the bag in the unfolded and picked-up condition, in top plan view, has a substantially rectangular circumferential shape, the number of hoisting cloth parts formed by the flexible hoisting belt segments is four, and the four respective second fastening areas associated with the four respective hoisting belt segments extend substantially at the four respective angular points of the rectangular circumferential shape. This contributes to a further extent to the provision of many hook-on possibilities and engagement possibilities in picking up the bag and in picking up the filling hose.

In principle, the filling hose, viewed in its unfolded operating condition, can have diversely shaped cross sections.

In an embodiment in which the number of hoisting cloth parts formed by the flexible hoisting segments is four, the filling hose in unfolded operating condition of the filling hose has a substantially circular cross section, and the four respective third fastening areas associated with the four respective hoisting belt segments are mutually arranged substantially in the manner of quadrants in the sense of the circular shape. This too contributes to a further extent to the provision of many hook-on possibilities and engagement possibilities in picking up the bag and in picking up the filling hose.

In the following, the invention is further elucidated with reference to the schematic figures in the appended drawing.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective an example of an embodiment of a bag according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the example of FIG. 1 in side elevational view and in top plan view, respectively shown at the top and the bottom of the figure.

FIG. 3 shows in perspective view an example of another embodiment of a bag according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows in side elevational view a number of steps of an example of an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

In different exemplary embodiments of different figures, sometimes similar parts are designated with like reference numerals.

Now referring first to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a bag 1 for bulk goods in unfolded condition. The bag 1 comprises an unfoldable wall construction comprising a circumferential wall 2, a bottom wall 3 and a covering wall 4, these walls defining an internal filling space of the bag. The bag 1 furthermore comprises a flexible filling hose 7 fastened to the wall construction in a first fastening area 21 of the wall construction and terminating in the filling space, for filling the bag with the bulk goods. The bag 1 furthermore comprises four flexible hoisting cloth parts fastened to the wall construction, in this case in the form of four flexible hoisting belt segments 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, extending at least partly externally of the filling space. Each of the hoisting belt segments is fastened to the wall construction in a second fastening area 22 of the wall construction associated with the respective hoisting belt segment. The second fastening areas 22 are situated at a distance from the first fastening area 21. Furthermore, each of the hoisting belt segments is fastened to the filling hose in a third fastening area 23 of the filling hose 7 associated with the respective hoisting belt segment. The third fastening areas 23 are also situated at a distance from the first fastening area 21.

Further shown in FIG. 1, in a schematic manner, are hoisting means 30, in this case fork prongs of a forklift truck. These prongs 30 can be hooked to the hoisting belt segments to pick up the bag 1. Such hooking can be done by introducing the prongs 30 into the intermediate spaces bounded by the covering wall 4, the filling hose 7 and the hoisting belt segments 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, as shown in the side elevational view of FIG. 2.

It is noted that in FIG. 2, and also in FIG. 4, for that matter, a number of hoisting loops 15 known from the state of the art are shown. These hoisting loops 15 are shown only as an optional provision of the bag 1 and in the context of the present invention may also be omitted.

In the example, the first fastening area 21 is part of the covering wall 4 and the second fastening areas 22 extend substantially at the junction of the circumferential wall 2 with the covering wall 4. The third fastening areas 23 extend substantially at an end of the filling hose 7 where a supply opening 8 of the filling hose is situated.

In the example shown, the bag 1 in unfolded and picked-up condition, in top plan view, has a substantially rectangular circumferential shape. The four second fastening areas 22 extend substantially at the four respective angular points of the rectangular circumferential shape. The filling hose 7 in its unfolded operating condition has a substantially circular cross section, and the four third fastening areas 23 are arranged with respect to each other substantially in the manner of quadrants in the sense of the circular shape. All this can be seen most clearly in the top plan view of FIG. 2.

Now referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, there is shown a bag 101 for bulk goods, in unfolded condition. A difference from the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 is that in the example of FIG. 3 the flexible hoisting cloth parts are formed not by four hoisting belt segments but by two hoisting sleeves 105A and 105B. The second and third fastening areas 122 and 123 with which these hoisting sleeves are fastened to the wall construction and the filling hose, respectively, are considerably larger than the second and third fastening areas 22 and 23 of the example of FIGS. 1 and 2. Such larger fastening areas offer extra strength during pickup of the bag.

Now referring to FIG. 4, there are shown a number of steps of an example of an embodiment of a method according to the invention. In the left-hand picture of FIG. 4, the bag 1 is shown in empty and folded condition.

In that condition the filling hose 7 is folded up at the top of the bag, while vacuum pickup means 40 have been brought into engagement with the filling hose. It is noted that if in the example of FIG. 4 instead of the bag 1 a bag with other hoisting cloth parts was used, as, for example, the bag 101 of FIG. 3, the vacuum pickup means, instead of engaging the filling hose, can also engage a hoisting cloth part, such as, for example, one of the hoisting cloth parts 105A or 105B shown in FIG. 3.

In the central picture of FIG. 4, the filling hose 7 has already been picked up by the vacuum pickup means 40 which keep the filling hose upright. In that central picture, it is further shown that the hoisting means 30 are hooked to the hoisting cloth parts of the bag. The vacuum pickup means 40 can then be detached from the filling hose 7 and the bag 1 can be picked up with the hoisting means 30. In the condition of the bag picked up by the hoisting means, shown in the right-hand picture of FIG. 4, the hoisting means hold the filling hose upright and the bag can unfold further, for example by gravity.

The example of FIG. 4 makes clear that bags according to the invention can be picked up and filled, for instance, fully automatically, that is, without performing manual operations on the bags. For example, multiple empty and folded bags may be stacked flat one on top of the other and, with the filling hoses always at the top, be supplied on a pallet. The respective filling hoses are then preferably folded to the same side, with the upper sides of the filling hoses being preferably suitable for vacuum engagement. To be avoided, for instance, is that any seams in a longitudinal direction of the filling hoses are situated at the upper sides. Thereupon, for example, a forklift truck may be driven to the pallet, which forklift truck, in addition to prongs, also includes vacuum pickup means. This forklift truck can then perform the method steps shown in FIG. 4 in succession for all bags on the pallet. Furthermore, the forklift truck can drive each picked-up bag with the filling hose held upright, under a filling head. The filling head can then be introduced into the filling hose, while an inflatable band, typically sitting around the filling head, can be inflated so that the bag is fastened to the filling head.

As holds for all known bags for bulk goods, it is important also for a bag according to the invention that the bag be sufficiently strong. This is to prevent the bag rupturing as a result of heavy hoisting work. Therefore it is important that, for instance, the fastenings at the first, the second and the third fastening areas be sufficiently strong and that also the filling hose be sufficiently strong. To that end, for the filling hose 7, use can be made, for example, of one or more circumferential strengthening straps which, for instance, interconnect the third fastening areas 23 or 123. Also at other points of the wall construction, additional strengthening straps may be used, for instance in a longitudinal direction of the filling hose between the first fastening area 21 and the third fastening areas 23 or 123, or between the first fastening area 21 and the second fastening areas 22 or 122. 

1. A bag for bulk goods, comprising an unfoldable wall construction (2, 3, 4) which in unfolded condition defines an internal filling space of the bag (1; 101), a flexible filling hose (7) fastened to the wall construction in a first fastening area (21) of the wall construction and terminating in the filling space for filling the bag with the bulk goods, and at least two flexible hoisting cloth parts (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D; 105A, 105B) fastened to the wall construction which extend at least partly externally of the filling space for picking up the bag by hooking hoisting means (30) to the hoisting cloth parts, each of said hoisting cloth parts being fastened to the wall construction in a second fastening area (22; 122) of the wall construction associated with the respective hoisting cloth part, the second fastening area being situated at a distance from the first fastening area, characterized in that each of said hoisting cloth parts is fastened to the filling hose in a third fastening area (23; 123) of the filling hose associated with the respective hoisting cloth part, said third fastening area being situated at a distance from the first fastening area.
 2. A bag according to claim 1, wherein: viewed in the unfolded and picked-up condition, the wall construction comprises a circumferential wall (2), a bottom wall (3) adjoining the circumferential wall, which closes off the circumferential wall at a first end of the bag, and a covering wall (4) adjoining the circumferential wall, which closes off the circumferential wall at a second end of the bag, situated opposite the bottom wall; the first fastening area (21) is part of the covering wall (4); and the second fastening areas (22; 122) extend substantially at the junction of the circumferential wall (2) with the covering wall (4).
 3. A bag according to claim 1, wherein the third fastening areas (23; 123) extend substantially at an end of the filling hose (7) where a supply opening (8) of the filling hose is situated.
 4. A bag according to claim 1, wherein respective ones of the flexible hoisting cloth parts are formed by respective flexible hoisting belt segments (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D).
 5. A bag according to claim 4, wherein the bag (1) in the unfolded and picked-up condition in top plan view has a substantially rectangular circumferential shape, the number of said hoisting cloth parts formed by said flexible hoisting belt segments (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D) is four, and the four respective second fastening areas (22) associated with the four respective hoisting belt segments extend substantially at four respective angular points of the rectangular circumferential shape.
 6. A bag according to claim 4, wherein the number of said hoisting cloth parts formed by said flexible hoisting belt segments (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D) is four, the filling hose (7) in unfolded operating condition of the filling hose has a substantially circular cross section, and the four respective third fastening areas (23) associated with the four respective hoisting belt segments are mutually arranged substantially in the manner of quadrants in the sense of said circular shape.
 7. A method for use in storing and/or transporting bulk goods, characterized in that: a bag (1; 101), which may or may not be already filled with the bulk goods, according to claim 1 is provided; hoisting means (30) are provided; the filling hose (7) is at least partly picked up through engagement of the filling hose and/or of at least one of said hoisting cloth parts (105A; 105B); and thereupon the bag is picked up with the aid of the hoisting means which are hooked to said hoisting cloth parts of the bag.
 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein: also vacuum pickup means (40) are provided; and at least partly picking up of the filling hose (7) is realized through vacuum engagement by the vacuum pickup means of the filling hose and/or of at least one of said hoisting cloth parts (105A, 105B).
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein for at least partly picking up the filling hose (7) and for picking up the bag (1; 101), an apparatus, such as a forklift truck, is employed, the apparatus being provided with the hoisting means (30) and the vacuum pickup means (40).
 10. A method according to claim 7 to, wherein: the picked-up bag (1; 101) is not yet filled with the bulk goods; thereupon the picked-up bag is filled with the bulk goods through the filling hose (7); and the thus-filled bag is stored and/or transported.
 11. A method according to claim 7, wherein: prior to said picking up of the bag (1; 101), the bag has already been filled with the bulk goods; and the picked-up bag is thereupon emptied in one of the manners conventional with bags for bulk goods.
 12. A bag according to claim 2, wherein the third fastening areas (23; 123) extend substantially at an end of the filling hose (7) where a supply opening (8) of the filling hose is situated.
 13. A bag according to claim 2, wherein respective ones of the flexible hoisting cloth parts are formed by respective flexible hoisting belt segments (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D).
 14. A bag according to claim 3, wherein respective ones of the flexible hoisting cloth parts are formed by respective flexible hoisting belt segments (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D).
 15. A bag according to claim 5, wherein the number of said hoisting cloth parts formed by said flexible hoisting belt segments (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D) is four, the filling hose (7) in unfolded operating condition of the filling hose has a substantially circular cross section, and the four respective third fastening areas (23) associated with the four respective hoisting belt segments are mutually arranged substantially in the manner of quadrants in the sense of said circular shape.
 16. A method according to claim 8, wherein: the picked-up bag (1; 101) is not yet filled with the bulk goods; thereupon the picked-up bag is filled with the bulk goods through the filling hose (7); and the thus-filled bag is stored and/or transported.
 17. A method according to claim 9, wherein: the picked-up bag (1; 101) is not yet filled with the bulk goods; thereupon the picked-up bag is filled with the bulk goods through the filling hose (7); and the thus-filled bag is stored and/or transported.
 18. A method according to claim 8, wherein: prior to said picking up of the bag (1; 101), the bag has already been filled with the bulk goods; and the picked-up bag is thereupon emptied in one of the manners conventional with bags for bulk goods.
 19. A method according to claim 9, wherein: prior to said picking up of the bag (1; 101), the bag has already been filled with the bulk goods; and the picked-up bag is thereupon emptied in one of the manners conventional with bags for bulk goods. 